Question

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled (皱的).” Today David wears casual clothes — khaki pants and a sports shirt — to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”

More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the changes from formal to casual office wear have been slow. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their workers to wear casual clothes on Friday (but only on Friday).This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”. “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for workers has really become an everyday thing,” said business adviser Maisly Jones.

Why have so many companies started allowing their workers to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new workers if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study made by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that casual dress has a side effect on work. Supporters of casual office wear also say that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”

1.David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because ______________.

A. he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt

B. he couldn't stand a clean appearance

C. he wanted his clothes to look tidy and clean all the time

D. he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes

2. David Smith wears casual clothes now, because ______________.

A. they make him feel at ease when working

B. he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes

C. he looks handsome in casual clothes

D. he no longer works for any company

3. According to this passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Company workers started to dress down about thirty years ago.

B. Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 1990s.

C. “Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers.

D. Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people.

4.D. he no longer works for any company

5. According to this passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Company workers started to dress down about thirty years ago.

B. Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 1990s.

C. “Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers.

D. Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

试题分析: 在过去，美国的白领阶层可以在周五随意着装，而不用穿公司的正式服装。而如今在很多公司中流行的趋势是：员工每天都可以随便穿休闲装上班。为什么越来越多的的公司开始这样做呢？在本文中作者分析了其中的几方面原因。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中David Smith 所说的“I was a clothes addict,” “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled (皱的).”可以推断他说自己是“a clothes addict”的原因是因为他总想要保持衣服的整洁不皱褶，选C。

2.推理判断题。根据首段末句David Smith所说的“and I need to feel comfortable.”推断他现在喜欢穿休闲装上班的原因是便装会使他感觉舒适自在，选A。

3.细节理解题。文章第二段内容介绍了现在人们穿休闲装上班的这种趋势和“dress-down Friday”的由来，根据In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their workers to wear casual clothes on Friday (but only on Friday)……“What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for workers has really become an everyday thing,” 可知周五让员工穿休闲装上班是公司雇主给员工的一种福利待遇，选C。

4.细节理解题。从文章第三段内容介绍的原因“A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work,”和Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes以及 Supporters of casual office wear also say that a casual dress code helps them save money.可知ACD选项都是员工穿休闲装的好处，而穿休闲装让员工看起来更有魅力在文中没有涉及到，故选B。

考点：考查社会生活类短文